Events:
Arthington Citizens in the U.S. Raise Funds for Self-help Development
(Oct 14, 2010)
Mr. Gabriel I.H. Williams, Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs
Washington, D.C. – 10/14/10: Citizens and friends of Arthington City residing in the United States have launched a fund-raising campaign to undertake a number of self-help development projects in Arthington, which is located in Montserrado County.
The fund-raising campaign was launched at the third annual convention of the Arthington Reconstruction Development Association (ARDA), which was held October 8-10, 2010, in Atlanta, Georgia.
During the well-attended convention, ARDA decided to assist the community undertake a number of projects, including the road from Monrovia to Arthington, recruitment of qualified teachers, as well as the construction and rehabilitation of school and health facilities.
Speaking at the convention, Mr. Gabriel I.H. Williams, Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs at the Embassy of Liberia in Washington, D.C., expressed the Liberian Government’s
deep appreciation to members of ARDA for planning to undertake self-help development projects in Arthington.
Mr. Williams said since taking office in 2006, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has labored tirelessly to restore Liberia’s tainted international image, rebuild the country’s ruined economy and infrastructure, and also put in place a system of good governance, so as to ensure sustainable peace and progress.
The Liberian diplomat noted that less than five years under the leadership of President Sirleaf, Liberia’s economy has attracted some $16 billion in private investment in the reactivation of the country’s mining, agriculture and forestry sectors. Oil exploration, he added, has become a new potential in Liberia’s private sector development.
“More importantly, it is pleasing to note that having successfully carried out the reforms required under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, the final segment of Liberia’s $4.9 billion external DEBT, which had burdened our country, was written off the books by the Paris Club in September 2010,”Williams said amid thunderous applause.
“We are grateful to God that under the leadership of President Sirleaf, and with the resilience of the Liberian people everywhere, and the continued support of our international partners, Liberia is making strong progress in its post-conflict reconstruction and development,” he indicated.
Honorable Williams, however, stated that while post-war Liberia was making encouraging progress, the country was faced with many challenges, major among which included unemployment and limited manpower.
“This is why the Government of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is encouraging Liberians in the Diaspora to get actively involved in the reconstruction process of our country because the government alone cannot do it all,” he said.
The Liberian envoy stated that President Sirleaf has been working very hard to ensure that every sector of Liberia benefits from the reconstruction PROGRAMShttp://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10×10.png being undertaken by the Government.
Expressing the need for all Liberians to support the Government’s national development PROGRAMS, Williams said: “There is no longer a system of us against them;” adding, “this is why there is no political prisoner in Liberia and there is complete freedom of
speech and of the press.”
Minister Counselor Williams, who also inducted ARDA officers, urged them to exhibit honesty and commitment in the discharge of their respective duties. He called on the officers to promote unity, adding that working at cross purposes would undermine
progress the organization could attain.
Also speaking at the event, Honorable McCleod Darpoh, chair of the board of ARDA, said the organization was founded a few years ago to help bring hope to the people of Arthington.
Madam Darpoh, who is a former Minister of Commerce, indicated that while the Liberian Government was making effort to rebuild the war-torn country, it was the responsibility of all well-meaning citizens to assist in the process.
In his inaugural address, ARDA President Harry Moore said his organization will sponsor students at some of the teacher training institutes and higher institutions of learning who will commit to take up assignment as teachers in Arthington.
Mr. Moore indicated that ARDA will undertake some self-help development PROGRAMS that will include the Arthington road, educational and health facilities.
In her keynote address, Madam Carolyn Harrison, head of an Atlanta-based group called Women of Vision, called on Arthingtonians to love one another, adding that the absence of love breeds hatred and other vices that undermine human progress.
Editor’s Note: press release.